Apparatus for automatically and successively moving containers to and from a fillingor emptying station



Aug. 21, 1962 R. s. P. ARBER 3,050,179

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY MOVING CONTAINERS TO AND FROM A FILLING OR EMPTYING STATION Filed May 11, 1960 s S hee1;5$heet 1 Aug. 21, 1962 R. s. P. ARBER 3,050,179

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY MOVING CONTAINERS To AND FROM A FILLING OR EMPTYING STATION Filed May 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ail-73 Fig.2

Aug. 21, 1962 R. s. P. ARBER A 3,050,179 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY MOVING CONTAINERS To AND FROM A FILLING OR EMPTYING STATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 11, 1960 3,050,179 APPARATUS FOR AUTQMATICALLY SUU- CESSIVELY MOVING CONTAWERS TO AND FROM A FILLING R EMPTYING STATION Rowland Sackville Preston Arber, Southall, England, as-

signor to U.D. Engineering Company Limited, London, England, a British company Filed May 11, 196i), Ser. No. 28,415 Claims priority, application Great Britain May 12, 1959 9 Claims. (Cl. 198-432) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically and successively moving containers such as crates (hereinafter referred to generically as crates) to and from a filling or emptying station, which apparatus is of a kind comprising a conveyor and associated stop means whereby the crates may be moved over and arrested on a platform, means for clamping the crates on said platform, means for arresting the oncoming crates when said platform is occupied, means for moving said platform towards the filling or empyting station where the crates are filled or emptied and for moving the platform back again so as to deposit the crates on the conveyor, means for unclamping the crates enabling them to be moved away by the conveyor whereupon stop means associated with the oncoming crates is released. Crating or decrating apparatus of the above kind is described in British specification No. 734,413.

Heretofore it has been usual for control devices for certain of the above mentioned means to be actuated directly by the moving crates but difficulties may be encountered should a part of a crate, which engages the control devices, be damaged or misshapen and an object of the present invention is to overcome that drawback.

The invention is particularly applicable to apparatus for moving multi-compartmented crates up to a station where milk bottles have been marshalled and held by a transporter head and thne deposited into the compartments of the crates whereupon the crates are withdrawn from the transporter head and moved away such apparatus being referred to as a crating machine. The invention, however, is equally applicable to a decrating machine in which a crate already containing bottles is moved up to a station where the bottles are removed.

According to this invention an apparatus of the kind first referred to above is characterised in that the control devices for certain of the said means are actuated by a carriage movable from an initial position and back again along a track disposed out of the path of travel of the crate, and in that coupling means are provided which are actuated by the return movement of the carriage to its initial position for establishing a drive between the carriage and an oncoming crate so as to move the carriage away from the initial position as the crate moves on to the platform for transporting it to the filling or emptying station and in that means are provided for returning the carriage to its initial position which means are brought into operation by the outward limit of movement of the carriage away from its initial position, which latter movement also actuates the coupling means in a manner to interrupt the drive between the crate and the carriage.

The aforesaid coupling means may comprise a dog so mounted upon the carriage as to be movable into and out of the path of movement of the crates.

The movement of the dog may be effected by its coming into engagement with the cam faces or ramps fixed to the frame of the apparatus near the limits of movement of the carriage.

The dog may be pivotally mounted on the carriage and controlled by a spring toggle mechanism so that it snaps over from one position to another.

The means for returning the carriage to its initial position may comprise a mechanism for tilting the tracks so 3,050,179 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 that the carriage returns under the action of gravity for example, the track may be pivoted at one end of a fixed part of the apparatus so as to swing in an up and down direction and is engaged by a moving part of a ram at a location away from the pivot axis, which ram communicates with a source of fluid under pressure through a valve mechanism actuated by the movement of the carriage along the track so that upward swing of the track is initiated as the carriage reaches a limiting position away from the initial position and downwards swinging is effected as the carriage again reaches its initial position.

Other controls which may be actuated by the movement of the carriage along the track away from its limiting position are, a control for a mechanism for raising a stop in the path of movement of the oncoming crates after the aforesaid platform is occupied and a control for means for actuating the clamps associated with the crate supporting platform.

The invention is particularly applicable to an arrangement in which two crates are accommodated on said platform and are simultaneously moved to the filling station and back again in which case it is desirable for the crates to be spaced apart on said platform. For this purpose there are provided one or more spacing stops and means for moving said stop or stops upwardly at the rear of the first crate after that crate has reached the aforesaid platform and before the clamping means have been actuated, which spacing stop or stops are actuated under a control which in its turn is actuated by the movement of the trolley away from its initial position.

The aforesaid spacing stop or stops are moved by pneumatic means downwardly under the control of the trolley upon its return to its initial position when it strikes a dual purpose roller operated trip valve referred to later and which energises said pneumatic means.

The following is a more detailed description of a crate feed mechanism for use with a milk bottle crating machine, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FEGURE l is a side elevation of the trolley which controls the stop actuating mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fi-GURE l and also showing the stops and crate clamp;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The general arrangement of the milk bottle crating machine is described for example in British specification No. 734,413.

As in British specification No. 734,413 there is provided a continuously moving conveyor 10 on which are placed the empty crates so as to be spaced a short distance apart. A transporter head (not shown) is situated above the bottles which are marshalled on a moving conveyor and which are gripped and moved by the transporter head to a position situated above the case conveyor 10. Associated with the conveyor beneath the transporter head is a supporting platform 47 and a ram 11 for moving the platform in an up and down direction between side stretches of the conveyor. The supporting platform is of sufiicient length to support two crates end to end. A number of pairs of stops 12, 13 and 14 are movably mounted on a fixed part of the structure moved up and down by rams indicated diagrammatically and respectively at 42, 43 and 44 in FIGURE 2 and are spaced apart along the length of the conveyor and each of which stops is movable in an up and down direction into and out of the path of movement of the crate. Two of said stops 14 referred to as outfeed stops are so located that they can arrest the leading crate when it is in the required position over the supporting platform. A single stop 15 operated by a ram 45 is mounted on the supporting platform and it and the stops 13 are disposed between the crates while on the platform at the lower limit of its travel and which three stops are raised shortly before the leading crate engages the outfeed pair of stops 14. The other pair of stops 12 are referred to as infeed stops and are arranged to arrest oncoming crates when two crates have reached the platform. There is mounted on the platform at opposite ends thereof ram operated clamping members 16 operated by rams 46 which members are arranged to clamp the crates on either side of the stop 15.

A framework 17 extends upwardly on either side of the conveyor and may support the transporter head and pivoted at 18 on a bracket 19 attached to said framework .to one side of and above the conveyor is one end of a rail 20, the other end of which rail is pivotally connected at 21 to a fork 22 on the plunger on 23 of a pneumatic ram 24. The rail comprises a bar, the upper and lower edges 25, 26 of which are V-shaped and mounted on the bar is a carriage comprising two side plates 27 arranged one on either side of the bar and extending above and below it. The two side plates near their upper ends support between them two rollers 28 having V-shaped grooves which engage the top edge of the bar 20 and the lower part of which two side plates also rotatably support a single wheel 29 having a'V-shaped groove which engages the lower V-shaped edge of the bar.

Projecting from that side plate 27 which is nearer the conveyor are two lugs 30 between which is pivoted a dog 31 which can swing from a vertical position to a position in which it extends into the path of travel of the crates. The dog is connected to the lugs or side plates by a spring toggle mechanism so that the dog snaps over to either of these positions.

Secured to the framework above the pivoted bar and extending along the length thereof is a vertical plate 32 and fixed to this plate a valve 33 associated with the ram 24 for lowering the rail a number of trip valves 34, 35, 36 associated with the rams 42, 43, 44 for raising said stops 12, 13, 14 and for engaging the crate clamping mechanism 46.

The valve mechanism 54 of the ram 24 is conditioned by the trip valve 33 and is associated with the valve 49 for controlling the clamping mechanism 46. The trip valve 34 conditions the valve mechanism 56 associated with the motor 42 for actuating the stop 12 and there is also associated with this valve mechanism control valves 57, 58, actuated by the crates as they approach the lifting platform which in their turn condition a valve 59. The trip valve 35 conditions valve mechanism 48 associated with a motor 44 for operating the stop 14. The trip valve 36 conditions valve mechanism 55 which controls the motor 11 for the lifting platform 47.

The platform in rising and falling operates trip valves 51 and 52. The former is associated with a valve 60 and valve mechanism 48 and the latter is associated with a valve mechanism 54.

The vertical plate also has fixed to it two cam tracks or ramps 37, 38 which serve to swing the dog 31 from one limiting position to the other as the trolley nears either end of the rail 26. As indicated above the rail 20 is pivoted at that end which is first approached by a crate and the various trip valves 33 to 36 are so located that the following sequence of operation takes place.

Each trip valve is provided with a lever arm 39 having a roller 40 mounted at the end thereof which is in the path of movement of the leading end of a member 41 fixed to that side plate 27 which is further from the aforesaid dog 31. 'It will be assumed that two filled crates have just left the supporting platform, the latter having reached its lower position and so actuated a control for a ram (not shown), associated with the stops 12 which have been arresting the oncoming crates so that the stops now release the crates. The carriage 27, 28, 29 in running back under gravity to the pivoted end of the bar 20 will have brought the dog 31 into engagement with the cam track 37 nearest the pivoted end and will have moved the dog into the path of travel of the oncoming crates. The carriage will also have operated the trip valve 33 associated with the ram 23, 24 controlling the rail 20 so that the rail is lowered enabling the dog 31 to pass beneath the cam track 37 which has previously swung the dog outwards. The leading crate engages the dog 31 and through it moves the carriage away from the pivoted end of the bar 29 and in so doing operates the roller associated with the trip valve 34 which controls the ram for raising the first said stops 12 again into the path of movement of the oncoming crates by which time the second crate has passed the stop. The roller 4% of the next trip valve 35 to be engaged by the carriage is that one which controls the rams which raise the three centre steps 13 and 15 and the two outfeed stops 14 by which time the leading crate of the two crates will have nearly passed over the centre stops the trailing end of the first crate having been tilted upwards by the centre stops. By the time the leading crate leaves the centre stops the leading end of the second of the two crates will have reached them or nearly have reached them. When the leading crate has reached the outfeed stops 14 the carriage will have engaged the roller associated with the trip valve 36 which controls the rams for the crate clarnps 16 and rail elevator 23, 24 and crate lifting platform. The upward movement of the rail 20 will cause the dog 31 to be brought into contact with the other cam track or ram 38 so as to swing it to a substantially vertical position. While the lifting platform is rising the carriage 27, 28, 29 "will be moving back to its initial position.

When the bottles have entered the crate the valve controlling the ram for the lifting platform will be conditioned by the lifting platform in a manner to lower the lifting platform the outfeed stops and the outer centre stops.

As the lifting platform is lowered it conditions the valve controlling the ram which actuates the crate clamps, centre platform stop and infeed stops so as to release them, the two filled crates are then moved away by the conveyor and the cycle re-commences.

At commencement of operation all stops and clamps are retracted and platform 47 is down and dog 31 is in the path of oncoming crates. Two crates enter. The leading edge of leading crate engages with the dog 31 which is in the path of crates. The dog 31 is therefore carried forward by crates and the following sequence of operations ensues.

First, the carriage operates the valve 34 causing valves 56, 60 to change over and admit air to ram 42 and cut off air from the valve 52 causing stop 12 to be raised.

Secondly, the carriage operates the valve 35 causing valves 48, 50 and 53 to change over simultaneously and admit air to rams 44, 43, '45, respectively, causing the stops 14, 13, '15 to rise.

Thirdly, the carriage reaches its limiting position and operates valve 36 causing valve 55 to change over and admit air to ram 11 and valves 49, 54, causing platform 47 to rise and the valves 49 and 54 to change over to admit air to rams 46 and 24, respectively, which in turn cause clamps 16 and bar 20 to rise.

Fourthly, when the platform 47 reaches its upper limit of travel the valve 51 is operated (by means .of a cam attached to piston rod of ram 11) causing valves 48, 50, 55, 60 to change over and admit air to rams 44, 43, 11 causing stops 1'4 and 13 and platform 47 to fall. Valve 60 is only made ready for operations described in the sixth operation (i.e., to allow air inlet of valve 52).

Fifthly, by this time carriage 27, 28, 29 has run back under gravity and returned to its initial position operating valve 33 to change over the valve 54, thus admitting air to ram 24 allowing bar 20 to drop to horizontal and also to admit air to valve 52.

Sixthly, when the platform 47 reaches its lower limit of travel valve 52 is operated (by means of arm attached to piston rod of ram 11) causing valves '49, 53, 59 to change over and admit air to rams 46, 45 and valve 59 causing clamps 16 and stops 15 to fall, valve 59 to change over making it ready to pass air from valve 57, 58 to valve 56.

Seventhly, the machine is now as at commencement of operation except that stops 12 are up. Stops 12 will only lower if three crates are present at the infeed to the machine where they will strike 5 7, 58-, thus allowing air through valve 59 to change over valve 56 causing air to be admitted to ram 42 causing stops 12 to lower. Machine will now continue to operate while at least three crates are available at infeed end on commencement of each cycle of operations.

Eighthly, if three crates are not available, the machine will rest until further crates arrive when it will commence to operate automatically.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for moving containers to and fiom a station comprising a platform, a conveyor continuously moving across the platform and carrying the containers, means for clamping the containers on the platform, means for projecting at least one stop into the path of the oncoming containers when others are already on the platform, means for moving the platform with the containers on it away from the conveyor to said station and then back again after the contents of the container have been modified, means for'unclamping the containers from the platform so that they are carried away by the conveyor, means for withdrawing the aforesaid stop means, control devices for said means for projecting at least one stop, and for said means forclamping actuated by a carriage movable trom an initial position and back again along a track disposed out of the path of travel of the crate, coupling means which are actuated by the return movement of the carriage to its initial position for establishing a drive between the carriage and an oncoming crate so as to move the carriage away from the initial position as the crate moves on to the platform for transporting it to the said station and means for returning the carriage to its initial position, which means are brought into operation by the outward limit of movement of the carriage away from its initial position, said movement also actuating the coupling means in a manner to interrupt the drive between the crate and the carriage.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a dog so mounted upon the carriage as to be movable into and out of the path of.

movement of the crates.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for-returning the carriage to its initial position comprises a mechanism for tilting the track so that the carriage returns under the action of gravity, and a control for said mechanism which is actuated by the outward travel of the carriage.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein other controls are actuated by the movement of the carriage along the track away from its limiting position, comprising a control for a mechanism for raising a stop in the path of movement of the oncoming crates after the aforesaid platform is occupied and a control for means for actuating the clamps associated with the crate supporting platform.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said platform is arranged to accommodate two crates and there are provided a number of stops for spacing the crates apart on the platform and wherein means are provided for moving said spacing stops upwardly at the rear of the first crate after that crate has reached the aforesaid platform and before the clamping means have been-actuated, and a control for said spacing stops arranged in the path of travel of the trolley and nearer its initial position than is the control for the clamping means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the movement of the dog may be effected by its coming into engagement with cam faces or ramps fixed to the frame of the apparatus near the limits of movement of the carnage.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the dog is pivotally mounted on the carriage and controlled by a spring toggle mechanism so that it snaps over from .one position to another.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said track is pivoted at one end of a fixed part of the apparatus so as to swing in any up and down direction and is engaged by a moving part of a ram at a location away from the pivot axis, which ram communicates with a source References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bennington Aug. 18, 1925 2,862,633 Stiles Dec. 2, 1958 2,942,715 Miller June 28, 1960 2,964,160

Powers Dec. 13, 1960 

